Preston Grasshoppers vs. Hinckley – Saturday 23rd March, 2.30pm
After a two weeks rest, Hoppers return to action with a game against Hinckley at Lightfoot Green this coming Saturday. They will be looking to avenge the disappointment of their worst performance and heaviest defeat of the season when they visited the Leicester Road home of the Hornets back in November last year.
Fortunes of the two clubs has changed somewhat after their last meeting when at that stage of the season our visitors were challenging for the top of the table. But since that game Hinckley have won just four from thirteen against Hoppers record which shows a distinct improvement of nine wins from the same number of outings. The change of fortunes has seen Hinckley slip down the table now occupying a position two places below Hoppers. Our visitors problems appear to be when on their travels with just one of their last four victories happening away from their Leicester Road ground and that being the only one since the end of last September.
A look back to Hoppers last outing at Peterborough Lions and their favourites certainly made the travelling supporters sweat it out that day, which was some achievement in the biting wind! As Arnie commented at the end of the game it took the appearance of the ‘Old Brigade’ during the second half to settle something of a skittish performance from the visitors. It has to be said though that it was the youngsters who scored the points to help him celebrate victory in his four hundred and fourty ninth league game. Watch out for a forthcoming big celebration and smell of burning boots!
Late replacement Matt Danson-Hayes (Can anyone name the three other double-barrel name players who’ve played league rugby for Hoppers?) made his debut at Peterborough and the youngster certainly didn’t look out of his depth on the day.
Last week was Matt Lamprey’s fiftieth appearance in a Hoppers shirt and this week it’s Skipper PJ’s turn. The former Hoppers Mini returned to the club at the beginning of last season and took on the role of captain with some relish, quickly becoming a firm favourite with everyone at Lightfoot Green.
Back to the forthcoming game against Hinckley and all told there have been seven games (all in the league) between the two clubs with the first meeting being on the 20thof December 1997 at Lightfoot Green. The records show five victories to Hoppers and two to the Hornets.
TEAM NEWS
After a weather week with no game the 1st XV lineup shows just a couple of changes with Dan Madden back at prop after a long injury lay off and Sam Stott lining up in the centre with Alex Hurst. The substitutes bench also sees a new name in the shape of Will Davidson, brother of fly-half Tom.
1. Dan MADDEN
2. PJ MILLEA
3. Peter ALTHAM
4. Adam HOWARD
5. Luke PROCTER
6. Ally MURRAY
7. Ryan CARLSON
8. Matt LAMPREY
10. Thomas DAVIDSON
11. Matt CROW
12. Sam STOTT
13. Alex HURST
14. Tyler SPENCE
15. Scott JORDAN
16. Noah. MILLER,
17. Ryan PURCELL
18. Oli TRIPPIER
19. Will DAVIDSON
20. Alex JOBSON
